Monday, August 10, 2009

Trader Joe's is my Go-To store when it comes to easy, quick fixings at a small price. There are a number of favorite items I get there. Not all of their items are equally tasty and easy to make, but it is fun to try out the items in their frozen food section. From time to time, I'll feature a few of their items on my blog with actual photos of the item and how it turns out when I prepare it.

I take a sheet pan, line it with foil, preheat my oven and pop the chicken in there for 20 minutes. The sauce comes in two packets and you can throw them in a bowl of warm water to thaw out. Let the chicken cool slightly, then toss it in a bowl with the packets of sauce. Their chicken tends to be a bit more bready than meaty and at times their sauce is a bit too vinegar tasting, so I usually add about 1-1/2 packets of sauce.

Microwave the rice for 3-4 minutes and voila - a nice Chinese style meal for two for about $6.00. That's a bargain beatnik meal!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

I've done a little research about GPS systems and Garmin seems to be the leading brand. The 265WT has an added perk of lifetime traffic information, rather than the typical 3 month trial and then subscription service that other Garmins offer. While there are deals currently on the 700 series Garmin, the added features are often those that are not used very frequently and traffic alerts are by subscription. As someone said, the higher the model number doesn't always mean better. The Garmin 265WT appears to be the most practical with higher end features at a fraction of the price.

The deal starts tomorrow at Staples, as mentioned in this Slickdeals post. Hop onto E-junkie to buy a Staples In-Store coupon for $6.49 to save $30 off $150. Read the post carefully.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Back To School Sale! Instantly save 20% off your entire purchase by entering promo code: SCHOOL20 during checkout. *valid 08/06/09 – 08/10/09 11:59pm PST www.MakeMeChic.com only. Cannot be combined with any other offers or used with Google Checkout.

It's time to get back to late night study groups, research papers, and pop quizzes! Back-To-School is just around the corner so we're here to help you get a fabulous new look this year. Be at the top of your class with the Hottest trends from Belted Boots and Strappy Mary Janes to Cute Mini Skirts and Ripped Skinny Jeans. Start school with a fresh new attitude and style! Don't forget to take advantage of the 20% discount off our entire store!

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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Owning a dog can get expensive, between food, treats, toys and vet bills, - be prepared to spend money! So saving every little bit counts. Since I've owned Jack, I've discovered some wonderful dog treats at Trader Joe's grocery stores. This treats can be found in their dog care aisle, typically near the soaps and lotions section. I rarely ever buy dog treats at pet stores anymore because Trader Joe's small, yet tasty and affordable selection does the trick.

Check out these recommendations, personally tried and approved by our very own Jackaroo - two paws up!

Chicken Recipe Jerky Treats: rave reviews from many dog owners everywhere, these soft treat sticks are terrific. Store them in an airtight container to keep them moist. They easily break up into little pieces as training treats or stuff a puzzle ball/Kong with them. Jack loves these! At $1.99 a pack, they are a bargain. They also come in beef flavor, as flat strips, but Jack did not seem to like these quite as much.

Charlee Bear Dog Treats with Liver: all natural bite-sized crackers that smell irresistible, so much so that Tom almost accidentally ate one while he was watching TV. A large bag is only $3.99. I saw the same bag at Petco for $5.99 (that's a savings of 30%). These are great everyday treats and are only 3 calories each. A typical medium size biscuit is 35 calories. These are great and super easy to stuff puzzle balls.

Beefy Rolls: these are wonderful, for special treats. They don't break very easily and kind of crumble away, so you have to break them into larger chunks. They are large sticks that have a glossy, slightly chewy casing and a powdery middle.

Chicken Jerky: For about $3.99, you get a small pack of American produced natural chicken jerky. They're natural, so they look pretty dry and colorless, but Jack goes crazy for these pieces. They are super messy as far as how much they crumble.

Chicken Wrapped Rawhide Bones: These are miniature rawhide bones, about 3 inches wide, wrapped in the same chicken jerky strips that are sold separately. There are 3 or 4 to a pack for about $4.99. They are just the perfect size and keep Jack occupied while not giving him too much rawhide to make him sick.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Sometimes bargains turn up unexpectedly in unlikely places. Case in point with "Touch Massage" in Beverly Hills, CA. Thanks to Yelp, I found this gem. On Tuesdays, they offer a $49 one hour massage, quite a bargain for a clean, spa environment. It may not be the Four Seasons, but their facilities are pleasant and soothing. Their masseuses seem to be quite good. I've only been to one so far, Martin and he was wonderful.

About Me

I am a native Angeleno who loves food, fashion and art. Always on the hunt for quality and value, I decided to share my fabulous finds with my readers. Foodie finds, fashion gems and grocery bargains galore!